Certain triazines as stabilizers for polyamides



United States Patent 3,379,676 CERTAIN TRIAZINES AS STABILIZERS FOR POLYAMIDES Stanley Ashton, Ronald James Hurlock, and Gerald Scott, Manchester, England, assignors to Imperial Chemical Industries Limited, London, England, a corporation of Great Britain No Drawing. Filed Sept. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 490,724 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Sept. 29, 1964, 39,586/ 64 12 Claims. (Cl. 260-453) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The heat stabilization of fibre-forming synthetic polyamides, such as the various nylons, is disclosed. The polyamides are stabilized by the addition of a stabilizing amount of a triazine compound of the formula:

r r z-o c-Y Wherein Z is an arylene diamine radical joined to the triazine ring through a nitrogen atom, and X and Y are each chlorine, bromine, hydroxyl or Z.

This invention relates to a method of improving the heat stability of fibre forming synthetic linear polyamides.

Fibre-forming synthetic polyamides, usually referred to under the generic name nylon, are susceptible to exposure to high temperature especially in presence of oxygen. It has now been found that the stability of nylon to heat, and especially the stability to heat of polyhexamethyleneadipamide, can be improved by adding to the nylon a proportion of a compound of the following general formula:

Formula I Formula I in which Z represents an organic radical joined to the triazine ring through a nitrogen atom of the said radical,

the said radical being the residue of an organic amino compound known from the literature to have antioxidant properties, and X and Y each independently represents 3,379,676 Patented Apr. 23, 1968 a halogen atom, an hydroxyl group or an organic radical which may be the same as or different from Z. i

The triazines of Formula I are novel compounds and form an additional feature of our invention.

Organic amino compounds known from the literature to have antioxidant properties are those for example described by Scott in Chemistry and Industry, 1963, 7, 271.

Fibre-forming synthetic linear polyamides include polyhexamethylene adipamide (nylon 66) and polycaprolactam (nylon 6).

Particularly suitable triazine derivatives for use in forming the polyamide compositions of our invention are those in which the organic radical Z is the residue of an arylenediamine in which one of the amino groups is a primary amino group. Particularly preferred are those triazines in which the organic radical Z is the residue of an arylenediamine of the formula:

NI-I arylene NRR' in which R and R' each independently represents an alkyl or a substituted alkyl group or R represents an aryl radical and R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl or substituted alkyl group. An especially preferred class of triazines is that in which the organic radical Z is the residue of an aminodiphenylamine, especially an aminodiphenylamine of the formula:

in which A represents a hydrogen :atom or an alkyl group. The alkyl group A preferably contains up to 12 carbon atoms and may be branched.

The halogen atoms represented by X or Y in the above Formula I for the triazines are chlorine or bromine atoms.

The organic radical represented by X and Y in the above Formula I for the triazines may be any organic radical and is joined to the triazine ring through a carbon, nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur atom of the said radical. When X or Y represent an organic radical we prefer that the organic radical is the same radical as Z.

In the especially preferred class of triazines in which the organic radical Z is the residue of an aminodiphenylamine we prefer that X and Y each independently represents a halogen atom, an hydroxyl group or the organic radical Z. Examples of such triazines are those obtained by reacting one mole of cyanuric chloride with 1 to 3 moles of 4-aminodiphenylamine, 4-amino-4'-t-butyldiphenylamine and 4-amino-4'-t-octyldiphenylamine.

Methods for preparing the triazines used in the polyamide compositions of our invention are in general already known. Those of the above Formula I in which X and Y each independently represents a halogen atom or an organic radical may be obtained by reacting a triazine of the formula:

with the organic amino compound from which the radical Z is derived. Thus when both X and Y represent a halogen atom the triazines may be obtained by reacting cyanuric chloride or bromide with one mole of the said amino compound. Those triazines of Formula I in which X represents an organic radical the same as Z and Y represents a halogen atom may be obtained by reacting cyanuric chloride or bromide with two moles of the amino compound; and those triazines of Formula I in which both X and Y represent an organic radical the same as Z may be obtained by reacting cyanuric chloride or bromide with three moles of the amino compound. The reactions with cyanuric chloride or bromide are preferably carried out in the presence of an acid-binding agent.

Those triazines of Formula I in which X and/or Y represents an hydroxyl group may be obtained by reacting the corresponding triazines in which X and/or Y represents a halogen atom with an alkali.

The polyamide compositions of the invention may include known antioxidants (e.g. phenols; phosphite esters, dithiocarbamates) to give improved staining characteristics.

The polyamide compositions of our invention may be obtained by mixing the triazine with the polyamide, for example the triazine may be added to the polyamide in the molten state. Alternatively the triazine may be added to the components of the polyamide before condensation is effected, or may be added at some stage during the condensation itself, and the condensation then effected or completed to give the polyamide/triazine composition. Usually the polyamide composition contains from 0.05 part to 5 parts by weight of the triazine per 100 parts by weight of polyamide.

The efliciency of the triazines as heat stabilisers for the polyamides may be measured by heating the polyamides containing the stabiliser and measuring the number of amine end groups in the polymer before and after heating in comparison with a polyamide containing no stabiliser. Loss of amine end groups indicates heat damage, and retention of amine end groups indicates successful stabilisation. Alternatively as a measure of stability the Relative Viscosity (R.V.) can be measured before and after heating, a decrease in R.V. indicating loss in stability. R.V. is a measure of molecular weight and is defined as the viscosity of an 8.4% solution of the polymer relative to that of the solvent (90% formic acid). A further method of assessing heat stability is to measure oxygen uptake, a high oxygen uptake indicating deterioration as a result of exposure to heat.

The invention is illustrated but not limited by the following examples in which the parts and percentages are by weight except where otherwise stated, and in which the ratio of parts by weight to parts by volume is that of the kilogram to the litre.

EXAMPLE 1 Solutions of cyanuric chloride (74.0 parts) in acetone (150 parts by volume), and sodium carbonate (21.2 parts) in Water (200 parts) were added simultaneously to a stirred solution of 4-aminodiphenylamine (73.6 parts) in acetone (150 parts by volume) at a temperature between and C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1 hour at 0 C. and the product filtered off, washed with water and dried to give 4-(4,6-dichlorotriazin-2-yl) aminodiphenylamine as a yellow solid M.P. 146.

('Found: C, 55.5; H, 3.8; N, 21.0; C H -N Cl requires C, 54.2; H, 3.3; N, 21.1%.)

EXAMPLE 2 A mixture of 4 (4,6 dichloro-2-y1amino)diphenylamine (33.2 parts) and sodium acetate (27.2 parts) in water (200 parts) was boiled under reflux for 5 hours. The yellow solid was filtered 01f, washed and dried to give 4 (4,6 dihydroxytriazin 2 ylamino) diphenylamine.

EXAMPLE 3 Solutions of cyanuric chloride (18.45 parts) in acetone (50 parts by volume) and sodium carbonate 1013 parts) in water (100 parts) were added simultaneously to a stirred solution of N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethyl-p-phenylenediamine (18.0 parts) in acetone (100 parts by volume) at 0. After 2 hours at 0 C. the solid product was filtered 4 off, washed and dried to give 4-N-(4,6-dich1orotriazin-2- ylamino) N ethyl N hydroxyethybp-phenylenediamine as a yellow solid, M.P. 116- 118".

(Found: N, 20.5; C H N OCl requires N, 21.3%.)

EXAMPLE 4 4-ethyl-4-(4,6-dichlorotriazin 2 yl)aminodiphenylamine was prepared by the same procedure as for Example 1 except that 4'-et-hyl-4-aminodiphenylamine was used instead of 4-aminodiphenylamine.

EXAMPLE 6 4'-t-butyl-4-(4,6 dich-lorotriazin-Z-yl)aminodiphenylamine was made by the same procedure as Example 5 starting from 4"t-butyl-4-aminodiphenylamine.

EXAMPLE 7 4-t-octyl-4-(4,6-dichlorotriazin 2 yl)aminodiphenyl amine was made by the same procedure as Example 5 starting from 4'-t-octyl-4=aminodiphenylamine. The prodnot had a M.P. 300 C.

EXAMPLE 8 -A stainless steel autoclave was charged with:

66 salt (hexamethylenediamine adipate) g 8000 Water mls 3000 Aqueous acetic acid (0.2 g./ml.) -mols 48.5 4,6 dichlorotriaZin-2-ylaminodiphenylamine (the product of Example 1) g 6.6

The mixture was subjected to the following polymerisation conditions:

Heating Time Temperature Pressure Stage 1 2 hours Room 210 G 1 atmosphere-e250 p.s.i. 2 1 hour 210 O. 225 C 250 p.s.i. (maintained by bleed 011 of steam). 3 1 hour 225 O.-)265 C"--. 250 p.s.i.- 1 atmosphere. 4 35 mins..... 265 O. 285 O- 1 atmosphere.

The polymer was extruded as a ribbon, quenched in water and the ribbon obtained cut into chips. The chips were melt-spun under steam at 290 C. and the yarn drawn 3.7 times its original length, to give a 70 denier yarn having 20 filaments. The thermal stability of this yarn was then compared with a control yarn which did not contain stabiliser.

Measurement of amine end group loss The yarns were fed continuously through a heated chamber such that they were subjected to a heat treatment of 220 C. for 30 seconds in air. The amine end groups of the yarns were measured before and after the heat treatment and the results were as follows:

Initial Final A.E.G./ A.E.G./ 10 g 10 g Yarn containing 4,6-diehlorotriazin-2-ylaminodiphenylamlne 4.1. 9 38. 1 Control yarn 43. 0 30. 0

It is seen that under these heating conditions, the yarn containing stabiliser lost only about 4 A.E.G./10 g. compared with 13 A.E.G./10 g. for the control. This is a significant improvement in heat stability of the amine end groups.

Measurement of change in R.V. and oxygen uptake The yarns were heated at 150 C. in air for 2 hours and the oxygen uptake measured. In addition, the relative viscosity was also meaured before and after heating. The

radical and X and Y each independently represents a member selected from the group consisting of chlorine and bromine atoms, hydroxyl groups and Z.

2. Polyamide compositions according to claim 1 in which the fibre-forming synthetic linear polyamide is polyresults were: 5 hexamethylene adipamide.

Initial Final Oxygen Uptake 3. Polyamide compositions according to claim 1 in per g'ofyam which Z is the residue of an arylenediamine in which one Yarn containing 4,6-dichlor0- 38.8 38.5 fiml. (N.T.P.). of the amino groups is a primary amino group.

30.3 21.5 24ml. (N.T.P.). Polyamido compositions according claim 3 in 10 which the arylenediamine is an arylenediamine of the These results show that 4,6-d1chl0rotr1azm-2-ylaminoformula; diphenylamine is a powerful inhibitor of the chain-scission reaction which normally occurs when nylon 66 yarn is NHzarylene NRR' heated in air. in which R and R each independently represents a mem- EXAMPLE 9 ber selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and The procedure of Example 8 was repeated except that g 2:i lgig g s gfi iggg j din to CM 3 the stabllisers listed 1n colum Iof the following table were l p 1 g 1m f i used in place of 4,6-dichlorotriazin-2-ylaminodiphenyl- 1 my ene lamme an ary ene ammo 0 t e amine. Measurement of amine end group loss was made as in Example 8. NH .arylene NRR' I II III Iv I v A.E.G./ Final Loss of Percent Stabillser 10 g. A.E.G. .E.G. Loss of 10 g. A.E.G.

4,6-dihydroxytriazin-2-yl-aminodtphenylamine 33. 0 29. 6 3. 4 10. 3 N-(4,6-dichlorotrlazin-2-yl-amino)-N- ethyl-N-hydroxyethyl-p-phenylenedlamino a7. 9 2s. 1 10. 1 2e. 6 4-ethy1-4(4,6-dich1orotriazin-2-yl)aminodiphenylamine 43.9 39.4 4.5 10.3 4'-t-l)utyl-4(4,6dichlorotrlazin-2-y1) aminodiphenylamine 66.0 45.0 11.0 19.6 4'-t-octyl-4(4,6 dich1orotriazln-2-yl)aminodiphenylamine 56. 5 47. 4 9. 1 16. 1 2-chloro-4,6 dl-(4-N-phenylamino)anilino- 1,3,5-triazine 44.6 39.4 5.2 11.7 2,4,6-tris-(4-N -plienylamino -anilino-1,3,5- 1

triaziue 44. 7 40. 2 4. 5 10. 1 Control (no antioxidant)" 41. 8 25.4 16.4 39. 2

EXAMPLE 10 in which R represents an aryl radial and R' represents a ber selected from the group consisting of hydrogen The procedure of Example 8 was repeated except that mem the stabilisers listed in column I of the following tab1 e gg 2 3 532 223?igiiiz gi ggg g 2?; were used in place of 4,6-dichlorotriazin-2-y1am1nod1- Whi'ch 2 the z oflan g y g m ii iz e ifiem of change in RV and oxygen uptake was r- Polyamide iompositions according to claim 6 in effected as follows, 40 WhlCh the aminodiphenylamine is an aminodiphenylamine The yarns were heated at 185 C. in the air for 2 hours of the formula: and the oxygen uptake measured. In addition, the relative viscosity was also measured before and after heating. The NH G results were as follows:

I n III IV in which A represents a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and alkyl groups having Initial Final 6 g gi from 1 to 12 carbon atoms. Stablliser R.V. R.V. 101M: 8. Polyamide compositions according to claim 1 which i contain from 0.05 part to 5 parts by weight of the triazine per 100 parts by weight of polyamide.

3 A 7 15' 6 9. Polyamide compositions as claimed in claim 1 where- 2,4,6-tri-(lyfi-phenylaminognflino l-3,5- 1n the fibre-forming synthetic linear polyamide is polyfi "ff- 555 3-? 3-; caprolactam- O to I10 I1 X I n a o a 10. Polyarnide compositions as claimed in claim 4 We claim. wherein the alkyl groups are ethyl groups.

1. Fibre-forming synthetic linear polyamide coniposicompositions as claimed claim 4 tions comprising a fibre-forming synthetic linear poly- E 1 3? hydroxyl'substltllted alkyl groups are B-hyamide, said polyamide being a condensationproduct 3 I d 1 containing recurring amlde groups as integral parts of the h i s lcomposl 1on5 alme m 6 31m 7 main polymer chain, and a triazine of the formula: g of? 6 Y groups e e y t-butyl or t-octyl X p 3\ References Cited 1 1 I UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,270,016 8/1966 -Duennenberger et a1. 260-4518 N in which Z represents an arylene diamine radical joined DONALD CZAJA Primary Examiner to the triazine ring through a nitrogen atom of the said M. J. WELSH, Assistant Examiner. 

